Album Review

Prior to the release of their second album, *NSYNC split from their manager in a bitter dispute and signed with Jive, the kings of teen pop. For *NSYNC, the move provided them with an opportunity to, in the immortal words of George W. Bush, "define themselves," to prove that they were an independent unit — hence the title No Strings Attached. To cynical critics, they very well might sound the same as ever, yet this really blows away their previous record. That much is clear from the storming lead single "Bye Bye Bye," a piledriving dance number with the catchiest chorus they've ever sang. However, the album isn't really just singles'n'filler; it actually is well sequenced and fairly balanced, much like the Backstreet Boys' Millennium or Christina Aguilera's album. Like those records, No Strings Attached pulls away from the standard dance-pop formula, strengthening it with harder street beats, electronica flourishes, ballads with some grit, and well-crafted pop tunes. Nobody is going to mistake this for Fatboy Slim, Beck, or TLC — it's still lightweight teen pop. Yet, it's very good teen pop, managing to not only work well within its limitations, but to push it slightly while retaining its breezy, hooky identity. *NSYNC still can seem a little ordinary, lacking a truly charismatic punch à la Britney or Christina, yet they do deserve credit for shaking things up a little bit, since it's resulted in an effervescent, ingratiatingly cheerful album that's a vast improvement on the debut. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Even guys like boy bands!!!

by
ToffyLights

I am a 17 year old straight male and I proclaim to you that I LOVE *NSYNC!!! And to be honest, I simply cannot understand why they died out in popularity... I mean, just LISTEN to these tracks! They're the catchiest things you'll ever hear! What was even more spectacular than these knockout albums was when the group performed their music live (they didn't lip sync-- GET OVER IT =-]), and let me tell you, these guys know how to put on a SHOW!!! DANG I want the boy band era back... now everyone is into this rock and roll cr*p... Remember, I'm no biased girl with some crush on Justin Timberlake, I am a teenage guy and I LOVE *NSYNC!!!

NSYNC Needs a Reuion tour

by
P.A.L.A.Y.

they need to get back to together and write like 10 new songs and go on tour

FIRST CD I EVER OWNED!!

by
diasaah

i remember going into Borders w/ my mom and siblings and thinking of a way for her to buy me this CD. Finally, i just picked it up and told her I wanted it. She asked who they were and I was like c'mon mommy they're NSYNC!! i listened to it EVERYDAY, it was like my prized posession when I was 12, It was never not in my CD player. my friends teased me at school for having it (got called an oreo), but i didn't care. i still have this CD and bust it out every now and then. i was soo in love with justin too and had my poster of him on my bedroom door. i voted for 'it's gonna be me' like everyday on trl during the summer. i really wish they would come back out, b/c i was forbidden to see them live at age 12.

Biography

Formed: 1996 in Orlando, FL

Genre: Pop

Years Active: '90s, '00s

Along with the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, *NSYNC dominated the teen pop explosion of the late '90s with a blend of group harmonies, gauzy ballads, and well-produced dance textures. Although the group emerged in 1996 in Orlando, FL, singers JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake had previously co-starred on The Mickey Mouse Club before relocating to Nashville, where they worked on solo projects with the same vocal coach and songwriters. Timberlake soon returned to Orlando, where he befriended Chris...